The Miami Marlins are in the early stages of a rebuild and are widely expected to be one of the biggest sellers at the MLB trade deadline. However, there’s reportedly now a chance that Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara isn’t moved this summer.
Previewing the MLB trade deadline, Jim Bowden of The Athletic writes that the talk around the league is that Miami will not trade Alcantara when his value is down this low. If he doesn’t turn things around, the Marlins have made it clear they are willing to keep their ace until the offseason.
Related: Miami Marlins could trade breakout hitter this summer
- Sandy Alcantara stats (ESPN): 7.14 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 50-31 K-BB, .758 OPS allowed, .258 batting average allowed in 63 innings pitched
Alcantara, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, has struggled in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old enters MLB games today with career worsts in ERA (7.14), WHIP (1.49) and OPS allowed (.758).
A lack of command has been one of the biggest issues. From 2020-2023, Alcantara had a 2.2 BB/9 allowed with just 163 walks surrendered in 661 innings pitched. This season, he has a 4.4 BB/9 with 31 walks surrendered in 63 innings pitched.
Related: Insider explains how rough start impacts Sandy Alcantara’s value for Marlins
- Sandy Alcantara contract (Spotrac): $17.3 million salary in 2025, $17.3M salary in 2026, $21 million club option for 2027
Miami is hoping that Alcantara’s last two starts – 1.50 ERA with a 10-2 K-BB line in 12 innings – are a sign he’s turned things around. However, it’s worth noting those starts came against the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Scouts will be in attendance to watch Alcantara’s starts in the weeks to come, hoping to see his command of the strike zone improve. If it does, he’ll be the most coveted pitcher available at the MLB trade deadline with a contract that makes him particularly attractive. Otherwise, Miami seems ready to hang onto him with the hope he has a strong second half and then he can be traded this winter.
Related: Miami Marlins receiving a staggering amount from MLB revenue sharing
